Horror Movie ConventionsSam Tomlinson

D.I.S.T.I.N.C.T

DON’T

IGNORE

SETTING

TECHNICAL

ICONOGRAPHY

NARRATIVE

CHARACTERISATION

THEMES

SettingA Good setting for a horror movie film is one that creates a dark atmosphere throughout the movie, a setting does not only help plot the narrative but helps build tension and atmosphere. A good setting should always connotate isolation.

A setting with a dark background is also helpful to build narrative and intrigues the audience to watch.

A good setting for any horror movie would be, a abandoned house, a asylum, dark woods, a graveyard, a spaceship (For Sci-Fi Horrors), a alien planet, a Laboratory (Resident Evil), a cabin (Cabin in the Woods), a basement, a attic, a tube station ETC.

Technical Codes Camera work is very expressive, High and Low angles can make tense

footage that creates fear for the audience.

POV shots are good when it comes from the point of view of the monster of the villain, as it creates Enigma around the POV you are seeing from.

Hand held shots are typically found in the ‘Found Footage’ based movies which create a sense of realism with the Hand held effect to create terror for the audience.

Sometimes Depth of field is adjusted to create an out of focus background that finds it. hard for the audience to see what is lurking behind the protagonist

Diegetic and Non Diegetic sounds are used to create a ambient uncomfortable atmosphere for the audience such as footsteps or trees blowing etc.

ECU’s are used to create a extreme sense of terror as the we can not identify who the character is or what intentions there are. It creates fear within the audience.

Editing is used to create tension as the editing will be specifically done to create a tense uncomfortable build up which is likely to create a fear and tension for the audience.

A ECU Which Creates

Tension for The AudienceTension is created if

something we to come

up behind the character.

Her eyes show fear

therefore terror is created

as the audience can not

look elsewhere

Iconography Often dark colours are used within the film to connate

darkness, blood etc.

Lighting is often used at a low key stage to create a dark

atmosphere that helps create tension. It is also mostly on

stage or on set lighting such as bonfires, fire places. This

type of lighting can make dark shadows or unfamiliar shapes.

Props can further represent the genre such as characters

fitting into certain props such as a chainsaw and gothic

crosses can help identify the character and further deepen

the characters motives and intentions.

Masks and weapons can also help create character and build

enigma around the villains within the film and their intentions.

Iconography can also present monsters in the way they bring

about disgust, fear, and terror; vampires, zombies all suggest

this.

Narrative A typical narrative for a horror movie is something along the

lines of a crazy stalker, a murder mystery, a family living in a

haunted house, a possessed girl/object, holiday goes wrong.

Modern Horrors usually goes deeper into a sub genre when

the main characters delve into the past of the crazy villain,

ghost etc.

Horror movie villains usually are similar to either a monster or

a unknown character; zombies, ghost, murderer (Serial

Usually), stalker.

Characterisation The main characters are usually following the certain

stereotype;

Loser girl

Cheerleader

Mother

Etc.

Police officers are usually seen as good or bad.

The bad character usually has a dark background or a secret

that nobody can not such as his a werewolf

Themes Dark Vs. Good

Depression

Religion

Childhood Issues

Revenge

Supernatural

Science Gone Bad

Madness

Nightmares

Envy

Suicide